Britain is turning away from beer with 212 million fewer pints being sold in
the last three months than the same period last year, new figures show.

According to the The British Beer & Pub Association 2 billion pints were consumed in April, May and June, a fall of 9.8pc on the same three months in 2010, a period that was boosted by World Cup fans stocking up on cans to drink at home while watching the games.

The 9.8 per cent fall is, however, the biggest quarterly fall seen in Britain since 1997, when the trade body started collecting detailed data and has hastened an already rapid decline in sales of beer, as it steadily falls from favour in many British households.

During the period, sales in supermarkets and shops fell 15 per cent and pub sales fell 4.5 per cent.

The trade body said it was worried that the Government had exacerbated the decline by taxing beer so much.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said: “Beer sales are a barometer of Britain’s economic confidence.

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“The Royal Wedding gave a welcome boost to this quarter’s beer sales, but beer tax rises are now hitting our brewers hard and undermining recovery.

“We warned the Chancellor that further beer tax rises would hinder job growth in our sector. Duty increases are fuelling inflation and stifling investment. Taxing beer fairly would create thousands of new jobs and substantial extra tax revenues at a time when we are all looking for private-sector led recovery.”

The total increase in beer duty since March 2008 stands at 35.4 per cent. The average pint of beer in a pub now costs £3.05, up from £2.41 in 2008.